Police and other law enforcing agencies have been laying special focus on a betting racket active during the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches in north Bengal.
At least nine persons have been arrested from Siliguri and Mainaguri (in Jalpaiguri district) in the past five days.
The Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP) has arrested four persons for their alleged involvement in betting and seized five mobile handsets and around Rs 20,000 from their possession at a shop at ISKCON Road in the town on 21 April.
On the same day, the CID nabbed four persons based on a tip-off after conducting a raid in a house at Mainaguri. More than Rs 3 lakh, 10 mobile handsets, and some incriminating documents related to betting were seized during the raid.
The detective department under the SMP arrested one Sandip Roy, considered one of the kingpins of the betting racket, from Siliguri, last evening.
Thirteen mobile phones and some diaries were seized from his possession. The additional director general and inspector general of police, North Bengal, Ajay Nand, said police were actively working to fully bust the racket.
A senior police officer said no stone would be left unturned to nab the racketeers and arrest those who are involved in such illegal practices. “Raids are continuing at different places,” he said.